Back home now & I think I'm all dazzled out!
Surprisingly, due to the Olympics - including the Ladies Marathon going past the Palace! - London was much quieter than usual, because the "general tourists" were staying away. There was no queue and we were allowed to go in when we arrived without waiting for our allotted time-slot.

The usual room was set up for the diamonds, which, like the Fabergé one was dimmed to almost total darkness, with the cabinets lit to make the diamonds really sparkle. Set out "sideways" so that people could walk along both sides and get the same view from either side. We went both sides so that we didn't miss anything!

The stones were breathtaking of course and I loved them all! So what did I like seeing best? I have to say "Granny's Chips" (Cullinan 3 & 4) just hypnotizes me every time . To see such huge stones is the most amazing feeling. The (literal) depth from front to back on them is astonishing - not usually able to see it sideways when it's in the usual cabinet at the the Queen's Gallery. Even though some of the Greville stones look large from the front, they are so much flatter and thinner than the really superb Cullinan stones that you realise the superlative quality of those very special items - even the smaller (ha ha!!) ones.
Bought the Jubilee book and the small Diamonds one just about the exhibition - lovely to add to the collection.
All followed by coffee and cake on the terrace of course... ;-)
Any questions...?

There was no jewellery that was unfamiliar from photographs, because of course they were some of the most impressive pieces which have all been worn over the years - but amazing (I'm running out of superlatives!) to be with in inches of them. The tiaras were especially lovely as I enjoy seeing all the mechanisms on them too. Hooks that hold elements together, clips to keep the comfort frame attached, screws to hold on attachments - fascinating! Even the Russian fringe, which I never realised has a "thread" half way up around the back, to hold all the bars firmly together - in my opinion this is what keeps it in tight shape, instead of "splayed" as it was in former years. Looks as if it can be adjusted to open or tighten the spacing between the bars, evenly and to the taste of the wearer.

I can't add much to Gillw's description of the exhibition, except to say that I feel so privileged to have attended also! Just a few days ago in fact. To say that I was dumbstruck is putting it mildly. Gill describes the room and route very well! I must mention the snuff box of Frederick the Great of Prussia - photographs come nowhere near displaying its mind-boggling dazzle! It is so encrusted with diamonds, (3,000) that the green bloodstone is almost completely obscured. The rose and brilliant-cut diamonds are arranged as flowers, insects,foliage, ribbons and musical trophies. Even the base of the box is lavishly encrusted with diamonds. The sparkle and glitter was astounding. The Delhi Durbar tiara suprised me, in photo's I find it rather heavy looking, but in reality it looks so delicate, with all the diamonds a-dangle and a-glitter. Now one of my favourite tiaras! (I do hope that I'm not boring you all!) I must describe the Coronation necklace, but like Gill,I am running out of superlatives and adjectives! The necklace consists of 25 cushion-cut brilliants, and the suspended Lahore diamond. It just sits there in its display case, and flashes with coloured sparks of rainbows...exceedingly beautiful!
Also stunning, (well, everything was,) but the tassel, or waterfall brooch of Queen Victoria I found just lovely! The fringes on it must swing slightly as the wearer moves. I think that should I ever meet the Queen, I would be considered rude, as I would just be staring at her jewels!
If anyone wishes to see the exhibition, they need to hurry, as it closes next month, and will not be repeated next year...not unless we all write to the palace and plead!

The huge and famous Archduke Joseph Diamond, an internally flawless diamond from India's fabled Golconda mines was sold at auction in Geneva on Tuesday night for a record US$ 21.4m. While the buyer requested to remain anonymous, it was revealed that Fred Mouawad offered the last bid before the buyer secured the flawless Golconda diamond on Tuesday night at an auction in Geneva, Switzerland. The rare, colorless stone—weighing 76.02 carats and roughly the size of a large strawberry—once belonged to Archduke Joseph August of Austria (1872-1962), a prince of the Hungarian line of the Habsburgs.

Includes jewellery from the Portuguese Royal House, the Visconti, the late Duchess of Genova [Genoa, of the House of Savoy], and the late Infanta Beatriz of Spain and her Torlonia descendants including the Prince of Civitella-Cesi.

> Click the 'Notice to Bidders' box> Click on 'View eCatalogue'> Set aside an hour or two while you turn the pages electronically and admire the contents.

Dear fellow tiara nerds!
Take a look at the shelf above Pcs. Margaret's dress:
Am I seeing the real Poltimore tiara or a replica? Or is it a photo/dias/hologram of the Poltimore?
I thought it was sold some years ago when parts of her estate was aucioned off!
Next question: Why bother exhibiting a tiara not belonging to her family any more? Or does it?

It certainly does look like the Poltimore tiara, but it seems to be assembled as a circlet, whereas I don't recall the Poltimore being so. I may be wrong!

I read somewhere on one of the tiara sites that the Poltimore can be changed into a circlet! There's also a description on the Christie's website from the auction some years ago!
I understand the Poltimore is very versatile; it's a classical example of a jewellers piece of Lego, it can be broken up - or down? - into various sizes of brooches, it can be worn as a necklace and as mentioned, it can be changed into a circlet! And there's possibly other formats!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cepe

It looks like it to me, but I assume its a copy.

It looks very strange with a cocktail dress.

Agree, but why would Kensington Palace display a copy of the Poltimore? Because it was Pcs. Margaret's signature tiara? I could understand if they displayed a replica of one of the family tiaras she used to wear, if they chose to keep the real thing under lock and key.

Includes jewellery from the Portuguese Royal House, the Visconti, the late Duchess of Genova [Genoa, of the House of Savoy], and the late Infanta Beatriz of Spain and her Torlonia descendants including the Prince of Civitella-Cesi.

> Click the 'Notice to Bidders' box> Click on 'View eCatalogue'> Set aside an hour or two while you turn the pages electronically and admire the contents.

Well worth an eVisit!

→http://www.christies.com/eCatalogues/index.aspx?saleid=24329.

I noticed this post too late to view the contents,I wonder what jewels belonging to the late Infanta Beatriz of Spain were put up for sale?